Mike Yastrzemski opened his Royals chapter with a jolt, blasting three leadoff homers in 15 games—an MLB milestone that only Rickey Henderson has surpassed for a new team in fewer games. The quick trio puts Yaz in elite company and fuels KC’s late-season pulse, even as his overall batting average sits at .222. Four homers, four doubles and eight walks have yielded a .905 OPS, underscoring value from the top of the lineup as Kansas City eyes a push for meaningful contention.

The Kansas City move, after a Giants swap, hasn’t been spotless—yet the leadoff power and plate discipline keep Yaz squarely on fantasy radar. If he continues to start games with homers, the Royals’ offenses and run production will hinge on his continued atop-order impact. His three-leadoff bombs in 15 games highlight a rare spark that fantasy managers will monitor closely as the season unfolds, especially in formats valuing OBP and plate appearances.

Kansas City rode a late-inning surge to complete the series sweep, turning a six-inning no-no into a 6-2 win at Kauffman. Davis Martin carried a potential gem into the sixth, but Chicago’s bats stalled and the bullpen faded. Lenyn Sosa supplied the Sox with an early jolt via a 426-foot homer, yet KC countered with timely hits and a decisive late push. India tied it with a long two-run shot in the seventh, Witt Jr. sparked the eighth with a single and a swipe, and Salvador Perez delivered the capper as Adam Frazier homered in the late frames. The White Sox’ 14th straight loss at KC underscored a rough rebuild, while the Royals leaned on a mix of power and mobility to remind fantasy managers that depth in KC is real.

Antecedent to the collapse, Chicago had left 11 runners on base, and questions linger about the Sox’s bullpen stability. Benintendi’s rough patch amid a rough stretch was noted by teammates as the team tries to recapture momentum. Kansas City, meanwhile, leaned into its rising offense, leveraging Witt Jr.’s speed, Yastrzemski’s hot bat, and the veteran Perez to plate crucial runs down the stretch. The next slate will test both teams’ resilience, with KC aiming to keep the offense humming against upcoming contenders while Chicago tries to salvage what remains of a season teetering toward triple digits in losses.

Mike Yastrzemski has been traded to the Kansas City Royals at the 2025 deadline, pivoting from the Giants to a team in the Wild Card mix. Through early August he was hitting .234 with 9 homers and 31 RBIs, complemented by elite Statcast metrics (40.6% hard-hit rate, ~90 mph exit velocity). The move shifts a veteran presence into Kansas City’s path-chasing lineup, offering a steady mix of power and contact as he adapts to a new ballpark and supporting cast. The Giants’ handling of the move, led by Buster Posey, stands out as a human, respectful farewell in a high‑stakes business.

Fantasy managers should note the Royals’ need for consistent production from a veteran bat, potential run production boosts in a revamped lineup, and how Yastrzemski’s role might shape daily moves down the stretch. His presence could unlock deeper lineups and give Kansas City a seasoned, middle-of-the-order shell to lean on as they chase a postseason spot. The transfer also ties into Yastrzemski’s broader narrative—carrying the weight of a Hall of Fame legacy while carving out a late-career chapter with a curiously competitive club.

Sunday’s MLB home run props land with clear value beyond the obvious targets. Tyler Soderström checks in at +460 for 0.5 HR, riding a recent power surge against lefties and Camden Yards’ favorable park factors for left-handed hitters. Kerry Carpenter sits at +425 for 0.5 HR, facing a pitcher with a troubling LHB track record and a high HardHit% tilt that suggests reasonable odds to go deep. Mickey Moniak tilts toward +370 in a hot-weather spot in Colorado’s new environs, where the ball travels, and Mike Yastrzemski sits around +TBD for 0.5 HR with a favorable early matchup. The approach leans into batted-ball metrics, splits, weather, and park context to chase round-robin upside rather than just the chalk plays.

Value-focused bets hinge on favorable odds shopping across sportsbooks, with a round-robin mindset amplifying upside when a couple of these value plays land. The slate highlights multiple lefty-righty nuances and park factors that can swing a homer or two, so the bets pair well with DFS and multi-leg betting. In this setup, the four core bets anchor a broader strategy, with Langeliers and others offered as solid backups when the ball is in the right zone. Odds are FanDuel-centered and subject to change, so price discovery matters as much as the matchup itself.

The Minnesota Twins have placed catcher Christian Vázquez on the 10-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation, retroactive to Wednesday. Vázquez has struggled this season, hitting only .174 with two home runs in 61 games. To fill the gap, the Twins have called up Jhonny Pereda from St. Paul, who has performed well in the minors. This comes as the Twins gear up for a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field.

The Royals enter the series with a record of 57-58, holding a slight lead over the Twins in the AL Central. Salvador Perez has been a key player, maintaining a hot streak with 15 hits in his last 18 games, while new acquisition Mike Yastrzemski is making an impact as well. Meanwhile, the Twins return home after a balanced road trip, with Ryan Jeffers performing impressively, currently on a nine-game hitting streak.